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Cover of Aggie Whyte book

Aggie Whyte (1920–1979)

To mark International Women’s Day 2021 ITMA was delighted to publish this special blog in honour of fiddle player Aggie Whyte (1920–1979). Compiled by her grandson Michael Harrison it is a most fitting celebration on this day to honour this Galway woman’s unique contribution to Irish traditional music.

Bonnie Kate, reel ; Jenny’s Chicken’s, reel / Aggie Whyte, fiddle [Source: “Aggie Whyte” AWR20; Recorded 1951 - Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity.]

Aggie Whyte and Bridie Whyte, with their father, Tommy Whyte
The Ballinakill Ceilidhe Band, 1938. Courtesy: Reg Hall.

Leather Away the Wattle, polka ; The Ladies' Chain, polka / The Ballinakill Céilí Band, 1938. [Source: “Aggie Whyte” AWR20; Credit: Oldtime Records]

Aggie Whyte and Bridie Whyte performing 'The Mason's Apron'

The Mason's Apron, reel / Aggie Whyte, fiddle, ; Bridie Whyte, fiddle. [Source: “Aggie Whyte” AWR20; Credit: Recorded 1951 - Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity.]

Aggie, Séamus, Maureen & Kathleen Ryan
Aggie with the All-Ireland trophy, The Coleman Cup
Oireachtas Gold Medal
Aggie with her sisters Eva and Bridie
Agge Whyte & Eddie Moloney, 1937 [Courtesy of Reg Hall]

Rattigan’s Reel, Miss Thornton’s (Reels) – Aggie Whyte & Eddie Moloney. [“Aggie Whyte” AWR20; Credit: RTÉ Archives]

The Doon, The Donegal, St Anne’s (Reels) – Aggie Whyte, Séamus Connolly (Fiddle) & Joe Burke (Flute). [Source: “Aggie Whyte” AWR20; Home tape recording – Aggie Whyte Archives]

“The darting lúidín, nimble fingers and sweeping bow hand were now at rest. (lúidín =little finger)”

Martin Fahy
Aggie, Séamus, Kathleeen and Maureen
Aggie Whyte and Joe Burke

The Road to Skye, jig; The Nightingale, jig / Aggie Whyte, fiddle; Joe Burke, accordion

Aggie Whyte & Fr. P.J. Kelly
From back L-R: Mairtín O’Connor & Eddie Moloney; Aggie Whyte Ryan & Bridie Fahy; Martin Fahy, Séamus Ryan & Séan Gavin; Maureen Ryan, Máirín Fahy, Ger Fahy & Kathleen Ryan’. Courtesy of Comhaltas Traditional Music Archive
Michael Harrison, grandson of Aggie Whyte

“Although I did not have the opportunity to meet my grandmother, I always felt a close connection to her through the music.”

Michael Harrison